If you’re a California American Water customer and you’re behind on your bill, there’s a program that could wipe out a big chunk of what you owe. It’s called the Hardship Program, and it’s run through Dollar Energy Fund. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is the California American Water Hardship Program?
This program gives eligible customers a one-time grant that gets applied straight to their water bill. It’s meant for people whose service is already shut off, or who are at risk of losing service because they’ve fallen behind on payments.
The grant isn’t a loan and you don’t pay it back. It’s a direct payment toward your balance.
Who Is Eligible?
This program is only for California American Water customers. If a different company handles your water bill, this isn’t the program for you — but Dollar Energy Fund runs similar hardship programs for other utilities, so it’s worth checking their Agency Finder tool to see what’s available where you live.
To qualify, you’ll need to meet all of the following:
- The name on the account must belong to an adult who actually lives in the home.
- Your account is for a single home or apartment. Shared utilities, commercial, and industrial accounts don’t qualify.
- Your service must be already off, or in real danger of being shut off.
- You must owe at least $100 on your water bill.
- Your total household income before taxes falls at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Where that cutoff lands depends on how many people are in your household — check our Federal Poverty Level guide to see where you stand.
How Much Can I Get?
The maximum grant is $750, and you can only receive one grant per utility during the program year, which runs from October 1 through September 30.
Not everyone gets the full $750. Dollar Energy Fund looks at your specific situation — your balance, your income, and what it will actually take to keep your water on — and decides the grant amount from there. If the maximum grant wouldn’t be enough to stop a shutoff or restore service, your application could be denied, and you’d be asked to make an additional payment before you can be considered again.
How Do I Apply?
Most California American Water customers can start their application online through Dollar Energy Fund’s MyApp portal.
If you live in Monterey County, the process is different — you’ll need to call the United Way at 211 instead of applying online.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you can check on it anytime using the MyStatus tool. Just have your utility account number handy.
Relief Recap
If you’re a California American Water customer struggling to keep up with your bill, this program can put real money toward what you owe and help you avoid a shutoff. Just remember it only runs through September 30, funds are limited, and the earlier you apply, the better your odds of getting help before the money runs out.
